Just a few hours before the NBA Draft, we here at SLAMonline have decided to review our own 2010 Mock Draft and, well, get pumped up that the Draft is here. After all, tonight is a big night. Depending on the moves your franchise makes, you could have a glimmer of hope for your team’s future and a reason to look forward to next season.

The truth, though, is that nobody really knows who teams will select until it happens, as the phones will be ringing off the hook in many team offices with GMs trying to make moves to get in to a better position.

In SLAMonline’s Mock Draft, as everybody expects — and almost nobody has disputed — John Wall from Kentucky went No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards. We firmly expect the dynamic lead guard to have his name chosen first tonight as well.

We also feel pretty confident that our guy Evan Turner, the do-it-all small forward out of Ohio State will be off the big board at No. 2, where he will have the task of resurrecting Philadelphia basketball.

At the 3-slot in the Mock Draft is where it really starts to get interesting. There are mainly three players whom the Nets are said to be looked at: forward Wesley Johnson, power forward/center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Derrick Favors. There are different thoughts that go in to the hypothetical selection of each player. If the Nets want to get the more polished, mature and proven player to come in right away and contribute, then their man is Johnson. If they want to try to create their own version of the Twin Towers in Newark, then they could go with Cousins. And if they want to go with a power forward who complements Brook Lopez, well then they could take Favors.

One thing is clear, though: In the Mock Draft, Johnson was still around at 6. In the actual Draft tonight, we would, along with the Warriors, be shocked to see him there.

The guy who could end up going a lot higher than some people expect is Hassan Whiteside, who had a monster year in college. He is a legit 7-footer who, although raw, is a menace on the defensive end.

As for a lot of the guys who went in the 20s in our Mock, the fact is that our guess could be as good as theirs when it comes to when and where players will go. Taking in to account that there have alreadybeentrades (and there almost certainly will be more) and the mindset of the franchise (best available, team need), it can be tough to peg where some of those guys will go.

But that’s the fun of the Draft for the fan. Sometimes a right decision in the middle of the First Round can become an All-Star and surpass the guys ahead of him in due time. We’ll just have to wait and see…

While many things have stayed pretty consistent in the city of Detroit for the past decade, others have taken a big hit. Coney Islands are still popular, Belle Isle is still the hotspot, Detroit Tigers hats are still essential, and despite his untimely demise, rapper Blade Icewood still manages to get the crowds hype in the clubs.

The Detroit Pistons, that’s another story…

“I think that we’ve drifted from who we were. I think that we didn’t play with the same grit and toughness that we’ve played with over the past 10 years,” Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars said in a recent press conference. “That’s the whole focus right now for us is to get back to the grit and toughness that’s identified us for the past decade!”

Honestly, I don’t feel as though one draft pick will help them regain their old-school aura but I do feel one player can potentially push them in the right direction. After spending a hefty amount in the free agent market last season on Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, the franchise is aware that this year’s draft pick will be very important. Gordon, was one of the top free agents of the summer when he signed a $55 million, five-year contract in leaving the Bulls and Villanueva inked a $35 million, five-year deal as he bid farewell to the Bucks. But there’s only one problem…the Pistons have been as lucky as Tiger Woods (as of late) in selecting the cream of the crop that June has to offer in this decade.

Looking back on their recent picks it’s clear to see that the Pistons need help!

With the seventh pick in the 2010 SLAMonline Mock Draft the Detroit Pistons select…

Ed Davis from the University of North Carolina.

Lacking consistency in the frontcourt, the Pistons need a “true” big man. The sexy picks would have been DeMarcus Cousins or Derrick Favors but they have to settle for what they can get. Currently, the franchise is led by Ben Wallace, Kwame Brown, Austin Daye, Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva (if he counts). Swingmen and guards dominate their roster.

Davis has been described by ESPN’s Chad Ford as a player who has “a nose for the ball and attacks the offensive glass. But he’s also not the most polished player in the Draft.” Despite his weaknesses, he may be the perfect choice for the Pistons. At 6-11, 225 pounds, Davis may be able to add a bit of intimidation towards the opposition with his huge frame. Although his averages of 12.9 points 9.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game weren’t the most impressive, he has tremendous room for growth. Under the tutelage of the Pistons, the sophomore from Richmond, VA could potentially bring back the “Bad” for the boys in the Motor City.

Last season scouts and mock draft “experts” linked Tyreke Evans to the second half of the lottery picks, saying he was too raw, wasn’t a true point guard, and didn’t have a strong basketball IQ. Most Sacramento fans ate up the Rubio pudding and were disappointed that they let him slide to TWolves for the ball-hogging Evans. Good call.

Evans ended up smashing predictions, going fourth to the Kings, winning R.O.Y. honors, and becoming the captain of this team for at least the next decade.

When it comes to Geoff Petrie, the man who took Evans and who the Maloof brothers would extend for life if possible, not a whole lot is out in the open. The guy who looks more like a hockey coach then a basketball exec, believes in the philosophy of don’t talk about it, do it.

He’s been doing it big time in the draft ever since taking over the reigns for Sactown, even while driving fans temporarily nuts. He doesn’t make the flashy pick that everyone wants, but it’s usually the smart one.

When fans wanted John Wallace, Petrie took some Serbian cat named Peja Stojakovic, when they wanted Desmond Mason, he chose Hidayet Turkoglu, when they yelled, “Petrie, take David Harrison,” he went with Kevin Martin, and when fans, enamored over the Summer Olympics, wanted Ricky Rubio, he decided on nabbing the Rookie of the Year instead. Despite his few blunders, eeh hmm, Quincy Douby over Rajon Rondo, and, uhh, Dan Dickau over Carlos Boozer (who everyone else passed on too), Kings fans hopefully have now learned to trust him.

The first instinct bumming around mock drafts and drooling over athletic outputs is to go Wes Johnson. He’s long, a pretty freakish athlete, knocks down shots and distracts opponents. “He’s going to be the next Shawn Marion,” you say. Maybe so or maybe he’ll be the next Jarvis Hayes. He seems like a good guy, smiled a lot during the draft combine interviews, and didn’t seem void of all life like Aminu. He could end up a King, but looking at the youth on the bench, I’m betting against it.

Donte Greene and Omri Casspi, 22 and 21, are at the end of that bench, both exploding with “potential,” and ready to contribute this year. If they kept playing in college/Europe, where are they in this year’s draft? My gut tells me pretty high up, and that the Kings brass isn’t ready to call it a day on these two for the wing position. Factor in the vet, Francisco Garcia, still just 29, and that’s a loaded wing area that may not have a superstar, but certainly has some pieces to pass on Johnson and make the correct draft choice. Petrie is going to break your expectations, so I might as well follow suit. So…

With the fifth pick in the 2010 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Sacramento Kings select…

Greg Monroe from Georgetown University.

Come on? Really? Monroe fifth? My iPhone says he should go to Utah. I know. But here’s why he should go to Sacramento:

The League is getting bigger and longer every season. Monroe, measured at 6-11 with a 7-2 wingspan, brings size, but more importantly versatility to a sometimes stagnant frontline.

The mid-season acquisition of Carl Landry may have solidified an inside scoring threat in Sacramento, but he needs some help. Landry can be close to a 20-10 guy, maybe more like 18-8, but consistently productive, nonetheless.

Beyond Landry, the Kings have been experimenting with a combo of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes (both very young) with a mild sprinkling of some Jon Brockman, who they’ll need to re-sign.

The experimentation will continue, and there really is nothing wrong in utilizing each of these guys’ talents. Thompson brings aggressive play (sometimes too aggressive), Hawes (entering the last guaranteed year of his contract) tacks on an ability to stretch the floor with his outside game and an improving running hook, and Brockman provides some beef and hustle to frustrate opponents.

All of them have talent, but Monroe’s skill, length and vision can push him past each to be the Kings full-time center in a season or two. He adds a high IQ player to the mix, a player capable of facing up or taking his back to the basket, who can rebound and handle the rock. It doesn’t hurt that he’d instantly be one of the top-five passing big men in the game or that he’s left-handed either.

As with everyone on the Kings, Monroe will need to work on defense and improve his rebounding, but the length, skill, and understanding of the game are there.

As he develops, I see the Kings using their gang of big men as matchup problems. Playing the Lakers and need to stretch them out, plug in Monroe and Hawes. Playing Phoenix and need to run the floor, go with Monroe, Landry and Thompson. Either way, a surplus of young big men is never a bad thing, creating competition in practice and advantageous mismatches in games.

More than anything, Monroe is a Petrie player. He’s cerebral, team-oriented, and will be a huge asset for Evans to make cuts to the lane or fill in on a fast break if Monroe leads, ala Lamar Odom.

Team needs wise this pick makes sense too. The Kings have a solid backcourt with Evans and the underrated Beno Udrih, only 27 and coming off a highly efficient season. As mentioned, they have a selection of wingmen to pluck from, and a lot more choices at forward and guard this free agency (where the Kings have nearly $20 million at their disposal) than they do at landing Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire.

It’s fairly safe to say Monroe has a long way to go before being named an All-Star, but the League demands being able to adapt to different styles of play, and Monroe does that for Sac.

A young and long core led by Evans and followed by Landry, Udrih, Casspi, Monroe, Greene and Thompson can have this team in place to make a strong Playoff push in a couple seasons. Much like the Thunder’s philosophy of stashing young talent and letting them develop together, it will eventually pay off for the Kings.